INCLUDING THE EXAMEN PRAYER IN THE CELEBRATION OF THIS ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA DAY..............

LOOKING BACK AT THE PARTICIPATION AND PROMISE OF TROY POWERS DAY IN SACRAMENTO 1982..............

THE PRIMACY AND PASSION OF STS. PETER AND PAUL..............

REGROUPING BACK INTO BLOGGING FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF COHORT ONE..............

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - OUR LISTENING AND ANSWERING HEARTS..............

THE SACBEE REPORTS ON MSGR. KAVANAGH AS "CHAMPION OF THE NEEDY"..............

THE CONTINUING INSPIRATION OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE...............

THE 113TH CONGRESS HAS SIX DAYS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE RECESSING TO CAMPAIGN..............

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ROSE MAURO..............

SUPERB SACRAMENTO CONCERTS WITH FOUNDING "IRISH TENORS" MEMBER ANTHONY KEARNS THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY..............

FROM FINISHING FINALS '14 TO STANDING BY FOR JURY DUTY..............

JESUS PROCLAIMS THE PARABLES OF GOD'S KINGDOM..............

THE COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF MY COHORT ONE D.MIN FINAL EXAMS..............

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HEADING INTO THE FINAL HOMESTRETCH OF CUA D.MIN SUMMER COHORT '14..............

A CARING CONVERSATION FINAL EXAM PAPER ON NCPD BEST PRACTICES U.S. DIOCESES..............

FINISHING UP MY NEW EVANGELIZATION CLASS DISABILITY MINISTRY PROJECT FINAL EXAM..............

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY FINAL EXAM COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED..............

CUA D.MIN COHORT ONE FINAL EXAMS WEEK..............

15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - HAVING THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT..............

ANN KAVANAGH'S SACRAMENTO VISIT TO HER UNCLE EDDIE..............

A PONTIFICAL # PAUSE FOR PEACE AT THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON SUNDAY..............

HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR DISABILITY MINISTRY EVALUATION COMMENTS FOR MY D.MIN CLASS PROJECT ?..............

CARDINAL MAHONY BLOGS, "DON'T BLAME THE CHILDREN AT THE BORDER"..............

IT IS TIME TO EVALUATE MY THREE DISABILITY MINISTRY NEW EVANGELIZATION PROJECT BLOG COLUMNS..............

My Faithful Blog Readers / Followers,

I must ask a favor of you.  As I proceed into the Final Exams for Year One Cohort of Classes for the Doctor of Ministry degree program at the Catholic University of America, I need your assistance.  In my New Evangelization class my final exam Project on Disability Ministry revolves around the three special blog columns I posted on Thursdays June 19th, June 26th, and July 3rd, I posted.  They need to be responded to with your comments, as a means of evaluating how effective I was in making the case for  the Greater Necessity for Ministry to Disabled Persons and those with Special Needs, in the U.S. Catholic Church.

Your comments should address the areas of :

Was I clear in communicating the need for unconditional Disability Ministry in Catholic parishes and dioceses in the United States ?

How convincingly did I make my points as a resource of Evangelization - welcoming and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Gospel Values the Catholic-Christian Church believes and teaches ?

What else do you feel I need to address in completing this project to strengthen the awareness of, and advocacy for, wholistic Disability Ministry in the Catholic Church ?

If you please, grade my effectiveness in communicating the Greater Necessity for Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs. A- Excellent  B-  Very Good  C-  Average/Fair  D- Unsatisfactory  F- Poor

Thank you for taking the time to evaluate my work.  Please send your comments no later than Saturday July 12th, at 12 noon Pacific Time.  ..............Fr.  Troy David Powers

AN IRISH TENOR TRIBUTE CONCERT HONORING MONSIGNOR KAVANAGH..............

Sacramento's Joseph Patrick McNamara celebrates his Birthday today as does his mother, Sally.  A very, very, Happy Birthday to you both.  As always, Joe devoted as he and his family are to their Irish American heritage and the authentic actualizing of it, is presently promoting a fine musical concert on July 24th and 25th.  The renowned founding member of the "Irish Tenors", Anthony Kearns, will be presented by the LaSalle Club of Christian Brothers High School in the George Cunningham '40 Performing Arts Center on the campus.  The Thursday night July 24th show is a tribute to the iconic senior Honorary Prelate of the Sacramento Diocese, Monsignor Edward J. Kavanagh. Tickets are $35 for the Mezzanine and $50 for Orchestra seats.  The  Show will also feature the McKeever School of Irish Dance.   Tickets can be purchased online @ www.lasalleclub.com / Looking forward to seeing you there..............Fr.  Troy

14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME AND OUR RELATIONSHIP IN CHRIST WITH GOD AS ABBA FATHER..............

The forecast in Sacramento is for a hot and sunny triple digits day on this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 4th of July holiday weekend.  The Gospel Proclamation Matthew 11:25-30, speaks  to us of the attitude of gratitude Jesus has for His Heavenly Father for revealing to the meek and humble key insights into the mysteries of God's Kingdom to Come and for the relationship  of pure Love He shares with God the Father.  Jesus is also reassuring to those who believe in and follow Him as fervent Disciples, that we need  not fear in times of trial and tribulation but to turn to Him.  Our Faith and Fidelity in the Good News of Redemption for Humankind in the Risen and Ascended, Lord Jesus, and in the Second Coming Christ at the end of time, has the power to lighten our burdens and sustain us.  May the abundant  Blessings of God's Love transform you and me to become evermore Faithful Witnesses to others of the relationship we are graced  to Share with God the Father and the Son, through the Unity and Love of their consummate bond - the Holy Spirit..............Father Troy  David

REMEMBERING "92" AND MEMORIES SO VIVIDLY TRUE..............

Ninety two years ago today, July 5, 1922, my mother Josephine Virginia was born at home in Sacramento California.  She went home to God and Eternal Life on December 2, 1982.  In her 60 years 4 months and 27 days of life on earth she was generously and religiously loving. faithful, and true, to her family, friends, neighbors, fellow believers, and to strangers, with an abundance of daily kindnesses and remembrances, that form a treasury of memories that flow deep even now, nearly thirty two years after her death.  Two of the most vivid treasures my mother shared and instilled in me were a profound love for God and our Catholic-Christian Faith; and the strength to stand up and be counted about what I strongly believe in, just as she did throughout her life.  In fairness and justice my mother spoke up when she or others she knew and cared about were victims of wrongdoing.  Were she alive now as my priestly ministry is being marginalized she would be true to her convictions and be unequivocally advocating for my return to full time parish ministry, as she was always wholeheartedly supportive of my discernment and decision to become a priest, even though she died in the first year I was a seminarian.  And so those who think I am too strong willed in my resolve to resume carrying out my vocation as an ordained  Catholic priest who is physically disabled but still very able to minister as a presider, preacher, and servant-leader, of God, know that my perseverance in doing that has been inculcated into me by the fidelity and fervency of my beloved Mother -  Josephine Virginia Corey Feusi Powers.  God Love You Forever.  I Do..............Troy David

THE RED, WHITE, & BLUE, USA OF INDEPENDENCE DAY "238"..............

Two hundred and thirty years ago today, July 4th, 1776, our founding forefathers, who were colonists of Great Britain in the New Land of America, signed a document  authored by Thomas Jefferson that became our Declaration of Independence.  Their spirit of patriotism was self evident in the liberty and freedom of becoming citizens of a sovereign nation nome of the national traditions associated with the 4th of Julyo longer governed by the British, but uniquely, independently, American.  As you share with your family, friends, and neighbors, some of the national traditions of the 4th of July : parades, barbecues, concerts, and fireworks, may you be blessed with the freedom  of, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", this day represents and assures us as citizens of the USA.  Though my freedom to fully celebrate Independence Day is limited for the third consecutive year by being made to subsist in a sea of seniors decades older than me, I will at least have some corn on the cob and watermelon, to mark the day.  God Bless America, the "land of the free and the home of the brave".  May your personal liberties and our national freedoms, bring you the joy you seek and deserve and that our country's bold proclamation 238 years ago, gives each of us the opportunity to ascertain.  Happy 4th of July !!!!!!!!!!!!!!..............Fr.  Troy David

EVANGELIZING ABOUT THE NECESSITY FOR UNCONDITIONAL DISABILITY MINISTRY IN THE U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH PART THREE..............

Here is the is the third of three Thursday blog columns (June 19th, 26th, and today July 3rd,) on addressing the necessity for a greater implementation of Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in the Catholic Church throughout the United States.  Having in the first two blog columns spoken about the 1978 U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statement and the National Catholic Partnership for Disability (NCPD) that emerged out of that Statement - Today I will focus on my personal experiences in and with the Disability Community and how the New Evangelization and U.S. Bishops National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization, "Go And Make Disciples", (1992 to the present) are reflected in my proposal that there is a much greater need for American Catholics and our Church to develop and embrace a wholistic commitment to carrying out Disability Ministry.  These three blog columns are part of my final examination project in the Doctor of Ministry program at the Catholic University of America and the class on the New Evangelization. with Dr. Richard DeLillio.  Please respond to them as an evaluative component of  my project.  Thank you.

Catholic Evangelization, the sharing of the Good News of Jesus as the Christ of Salvation is rooted in reaching out to all peoples.  Following the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965, and the Synod of Bishops gathering on Evangelization in 1974, Pope Paul VI issued an encylcial (papal teaching document, "Evangelization In The Modern World" (1975) , in which he enunciated that the Catholic Church must not be, "defensive or rigid", but "better equipped to carry out Christ's mission of bringing the Good News", a message that we are 'saved and healed' to everyone.  For over more than 40 years the Catholic Church has reiterated this message in placing a greater awareness and practice of a renewed love of reading, studying, and praying, with the Sacred Scriptures; that places a much greater focus on our relationship with Jesus as His disciples who are intentionally seeking to love and follow Him and invite others to do so also; with an attentiveness and heightened focus on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives; and through sacramental renewal and our mutual faith journeys in dynamically witnessing to our Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, as disciples and evangelists who inspire and encourage others to join the Catholic-Christian Church.

The foremost attribute of Catholic Evangelization is that it must be Welcoming to those seeking to enter and be present and participating members of the Community of Believers.  Extending an openness and warmth to visitors, inquirers, and newcomers, as well as parishioners that  is selfless and sincere in reaching out and  inviting them into spiritual and social interaction.  The three central Goals  of the U.S. Bishops' "Go And  Make Disciples", (GMD) underscores the pivotal need for evangelizing and being re-evangelized, in an all inclusive way.  Their 1st Goal is to - "Bring about in all Catholics such  an enthusiasm for their faith that in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others."   The 2nd Goal of GMD, IS - "To invite all people in the United States whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so that they may come to  join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith".  And the U.S. Bishops 3rd Goal is - "To foster gospel values within our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ."  All 3 Goals  shape and define our call to action as American Catholics.  For purposes of applying their intent into the focus on greater Catholic Disability Ministry I will concentrate on Goal 3

"Promoting the dignity of the human person", as stated in Goal 3 of GMD, is a core teaching of the Respect For Life the Catholic Church believes in and teaches.  Therefore, in order to affirm the God given right to every person to, "live, dwell, and have our being", requires an openness and acceptance of all people regardless of their state or condition, as equal co-heirs to God's Kingdom and thus to "full, active, and conscious",  participation in the sacramental, liturgical, spiritual, catechetical, and social, life of the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ.  This pertains as much to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, as it does to everyone else.  Inaccessibility, the lack of Inclusion, and the failure to  Empower, the Disabled by the Church is a violation of their dignity and human rights along with discrimination and the disqualification of our baptismal right to the priestly, prophetic, and kingly, Mission and Ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus The Christ.  How can we authenticate the, "importance of family", and the common good of our society", while we exclude or obstruct the presence and participation of the 14 million Catholics in the United States with Special Needs.  We will not be truly transformed or transformative in the, "saving power of Jesus Christ until the disabled have an equal place of membership and ministry in the Catholic Church.

I myself have experienced it both ways.  From childhood up to recent years as an inviting, welcoming, full opportunity, experience of Church as a lay minister for eighteen years and an ordained deacon and priest since 1987.  My physical disability did not preclude my ability or opportunity to minister to God's People.  That acceptance, affirmation, and support, have not continued the past few years, as now as a right leg below the knee amputee I have been sidelined in my mid 50's into a senior citizens residence and  left without assigned priestly ministry for the last two years and two months. My story of being treated as if I am disqualified instead of the truth being I am disabled but still able of fulfilling my priestly duties of presiding at Mass, preaching, administering Sacraments, catechizing, and evangelizing, is just one example of the inconsistent, incomplete, and inappropriate, response to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs the Catholic Church in the United States must forthrightly eradicate parishes, dioceses, and ministries.  The Bishops 1978 Pastoral Statement, the ongoing efforts of the NCPD since 1982, the USCCB;S Strategic Plan and their 3 Goals for Evangelization, are a sure sign of hope in eradicating the indifference and insensitivity, that unfortunately still exists. The authentic practice throughout our national Church of compassion and mercy for all persons, particularly those of us in the disability community who are 20% of the Catholics in the United States is urgently overdue without exception now and presently pushing forward.  For how else will we be a caring, loving, interdependent, and wholistic,Body of Christ and Catholic Community now and ever more, as long  as  we fail to welcome and affirmatively include all our members and visitors in the prayer, worship, and ministry, of being Church ?..............

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today's and the previous two Thursday blog columns on Disability Ministry.  Now, please respond by posting your comments, reactions, or questions right here on the blog.  Peace + Prayers as we proceed to Push Forward in the Inclusion  and Empowerment of  those of with Special Needs in the U.S. Catholic Church..............Rev. Fr. Troy David Powers

THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS LAW WAS SIGNED INTO LAW 50 YEARS AGO TODAY..............

A half a century has past when on this date in 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed into law the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive effort to address the equality of ll Americans and elimination of prejudice, discrimination, and segregation, due to racial differences.  It came 187 years after our Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America.  A coalition of other than Southern Democrats and large numbers of Republicans in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed the landmark legislation that a century after the Civil War began to accelerate our national commitment to fully casting off the ravages of slavery and permitting unconditional freedom and equal opportunity under the mandate of Federal Law to every American citizen. How far forward in making progress fifty years later do you think we have come as the, "land of the free...with liberty and justice for all ?" May our reflection on that reality being realized continue to bear fruit as we prepare to commemorate the 238th anniversary of the 4th of July that set the American experience of Freedom for all our peoples in motion..............fr.tdp

HAVE YOU COMMENTED ON MY JUNE 26TH DISABILITY MINISTRY BLOG COLUMN ? PLEASE DO SO..............

Blog column 2, of my Doctor of Ministry student at the Catholic University of America New Evangelization class project on the Greater Necessity for Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs was posted on Thursday June 26th. Have you taken the time to read it yet ?  Will you kindly do so, and then respond by writing a comment on my blog.  The third and final of the three special blog columns will be posted this Thursday July 3rd.  Spread the word and say yes to sharing in my project as I begin to zero in on my focus for the degree I am seeking in order to further my priestly ministry to others in the Disability Community, 14 million who are members of the Catholic Church in the United States..............Fr. Troy David